The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR says at least 367 people have died in the first six months of this year trying to cross by sea into Yemen from Somalia.
UNHCR spokeswoman Jennifer Pagonis says, by comparison, about 328 people died all of last year.
Pagonis told reporters Tuesday, an additional 118 people are missing after attempting to cross the Gulf of Aden into Yemen this year.
The agency reports 77 boats have arrived in Yemen carrying at least 8,600 refugees, mostly Somalis and Ethiopians, since January of this year.
She says many refugees die during the journey because their smugglers force them off the boats leaving them to drown. Others are beaten to death.
The flow of refugees crossing the Gulf of Aden has temporarily stopped because the waters are rough during July and August.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
